Castillo-Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña, Hermitage church in Mijas, Spain.
The Castillo-Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña is a sanctuary carved directly into a rocky hillside overlooking Mijas, featuring whitewashed walls and traditional Spanish architectural details. The interior comprises several interconnected chambers excavated from the stone, creating intimate spaces for worship and prayer.
Franciscan monks began excavating this site in 1548 as a retreat for spiritual contemplation, establishing a lasting religious center for the region. Veneration at the location grew through local reports of supernatural events in the 16th century, which reinforced its importance to the community.
The chapel remains a focal point for local devotion to Mary, drawing pilgrims who visit to pray and seek blessings at this sacred location. Today, believers regularly gather here to participate in the contemplative atmosphere that the rock-carved sanctuary creates for spiritual reflection.
The best route to the sanctuary follows marked walking paths from central Mijas that lead uphill and are fairly easy to reach on foot. The interior spaces are small and narrow, so wearing comfortable shoes and exercising caution on slippery stone surfaces is advisable.
According to local lore, the sanctuary was founded at this specific location because inhabitants witnessed a mysterious white dove that reportedly transformed into an apparition of Mary. This event remains discussed by visitors today, as it plays a central role in the traditional account of how the site became sacred.
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